This disclosure provides products useful as construction materials and containing set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite, including a gypsum panel having a gypsum core comprising set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite and characterized by decreased heat shrinkage and increased resistance to fire damage in comparison to the gypsum panel that comprises vermiculite that has not been ammonium-exchanged. The disclosure further relates to methods for producing the gypsum panel and constructing building assemblies with the gypsum panels, including walls and ceilings.

This disclosure provides products useful as construction materials and containing set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite, including a gypsum panel having a gypsum core comprising set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite and characterized by decreased heat shrinkage and increased resistance to fire damage in comparison to the gypsum panel that comprises vermiculite that has not been ammonium-exchanged. The disclosure further relates to methods for producing the gypsum panel and constructing building assemblies with the gypsum panels, including walls and ceilings.